Control

Chapter 13

Hizashi is bored out of her mind. While being stuck in her husband's body has been a roller-coaster of good days and bad, the bad ones being masculine days, she's learned exactly why Shouta doesn't want to be seen like this. Her masculine days have been plagued by dysphoria, something she's never really experienced in more than just a strong dislike of certain clothing items on masculine or feminine days, and she can only imagine what it's like for him as he's normally stuck in that body forever. She's sure the body swap is a breath of fresh air for Shouta because for her, it's more like walking a mile in someone else's shoes.

Hizashi's boredom gets cured by the ringing of her phone. Since she doesn't have to watch for calls from the Hero Commission for the time being, Hizashi told all the kids, both the ones who are actually hers, and the ones who may as well be with how often they're at the house, that they could call her for anything they need rather than texting and hoping that she answers in a timely manner. She's glad for the interruption because along with her husband's body, she also gained his insomnia when the body swap happened. Since both of her kids are home, and Katsuki is there for his usual week of hiding out, she automatically assumes that the caller is either Shouta, who started going on patrol as her after the swap, having gained control of Hizashi's quirk fairly quickly, or the only extra kid who isn't at the house, the one who reminds her so much of the little boy she was forced to give up thirteen years ago, Hitoshi. Upon reading the caller ID, she finds that it's the second option causing her to wonder why Hitoshi is calling her this late at night.

"What's up, little listener?" Hizashi answers the phone. Even though the two heroes have been body swapped for nearly a month now, Hitoshi still can't get over how surprising it is to hear the normally blonde hero speak with Shouta's voice. It's unsettling to the boy.

Hitoshi gulps nervously before speaking. He had double checked that everyone in his house was asleep before calling. He definitely doesn't need his adoptive parents hearing this conversation. "How did you know you were gender fluid?" is the timid response that Hitoshi manages after a moment or two of hesitation.

Hizashi perks up at the question. She's been wondering what has been going through the purple haired kid's head when they go quiet for long periods of time. Has Hitoshi been questioning their gender for a long time? "I honestly didn't notice it myself," Hizashi replies. "Shouta noticed how I would act different certain days, and offered for me to try on some of the dresses that his dad would send him at random times. I honestly still don't know why he kept them when they were proof of his father's blatant disregard for who Shouta is, but it was sweet of him to offer." Hizashi pauses. "What's going on for you? What exactly do you feel?"

Hitoshi isn't sure how exactly to respond to that. Should he tell the hero exactly what has been going through his mind? Will Hizashi even understand what's been going on? Before responding, Hitoshi opens his door to listen for any sounds in the house before returning to the matter at hand. "I don't necessarily feel like I'm not a boy, but sometimes I don't feel like 'he' is the right word to describe me with. I definitely never feel like a girl, though, I just don't feel like a boy sometimes."

Hizashi nods even though the kid on the other end of the phone can't see her. "Have you researched different gender identities? What you described kind of makes me think of this one kid I met a few years ago who said he was a demiboy. It's under the nonbinary umbrella just like gender fluid is."

Hitoshi rubs his hand down his face. "Is it really that simple, though? Like, I just choose a word that seems to fit and that's it?"

Hizashi laughs. "Think of the terms as like refrigerator magnets. If one term seems to fit today, you use that. Then, say a few days, weeks, years down the line, you realize it doesn't really fit, just change it out for a different one. You could even just use the term nonbinary and be fine with that. Shouta's sister, Ajisai, is pangender, but she absolutely hates that term, says nonbinary is so much nicer. What pronouns feel right to you, Hitoshi?"

"He/him and they/them. Both feel good, but some days I like they/them better."

Just as Hizashi is about to say something else, there's a loud sound as if something was dropped. Based off of how loud it was, she assumes that it was the phone itself. Worried about what could possibly be going on, she keeps the line open to hear as much as she possibly can, and what she does hear, makes her wish that she could go there immediately to protect the poor kid.

"What have we fucking told you?" a masculine voice yells loud enough that he can be heard even though the phone isn't on speaker. "You are a boy. Your brothers are boys, Riku is a boy."

Hizashi cringes at that statement. People like that remind her of Shouta's parents. She listens further, hoping that the words are all that she's going to hear, and, sadly, being disappointed. The first thing she hears sounds like water splashing, then a thud that leads to her being able to hear Hitoshi's fearful whimpering. Just as she wonders what could be scary about water, she hears the cracking of a whip along with the question of how many lashes Hitoshi thinks he deserves for the transgression of thinking that he could be anything other than a boy. She immediately hangs up and dials Shouta's number.

Hizashi doesn't give Shouta time to speak after he answers the phone. She just recognizes the sound of the phone being answered and starts speaking. "Hitoshi needs help. They're hurting him."

"Where?" is the only word Shouta gets out.

"His house."

Shouta immediately hangs up the phone and abandons his spot where he was keeping tabs on a suspicious looking individual with burn covering a large portion of their face. As much as he would like to continue following the person who's suspected of vigilantism, Hitoshi's immediate safety is far more important. Although, of all the things he could end up finding when he arrives, he definitely doesn't expect what he breaks down the door to find.